Illegal mining activities rising in S Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines - A possible five-year large-scale mining moratorium, coupled with soaring gold prices is resulting in unwanted increase in illegal mining activities in South Cotabato.

Tampakan municipal environment officer Eileen Estrada recently disclosed that the local government has stepped up its efforts against illegal small-scale mining.

“Our mayor is leading the efforts to curb illegal small-scale mining with the help of the barangay officials and the local police,” Estrada said.

According to Estrada, a possible large-scale mining moratorium in South Cotabato, high gold prices and the denial of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application for the proposed $5.9 billion Tampakan mining project are hurting the local government’s fight against illegal mining activities.

“Financiers of these illegal activities are using the ECC denial issue and the mining moratorium to convince residents to work for illegal small-scale mining activities,” Estrada said.

Estrada added that it is not helping that the buying rate for gold in Tampakan is relatively enticing considering the lack of enough livelihood opportunities “in the hills”.

According to reports, the gold buying rate in Tampakan is at least P1,800 per ounce.

 “We all know that these illegal small-scale activities pose more danger to the community and the environment,” Estrada said.

Tampakan tribal and barangay leaders have expressed fears that if the Xstrata-led Sagittarius Mines Inc. Tampakan project does not push through, illegal small-scale mining operators would take over the project area.

Blaan tribal chieftain Dalena Samling of Danlag, Tampakan said they fear unregulated illegal small-scale mining activities as these would create more problems for them.

The main ore body of the proposed Tampakan copper-gold project is located in Barangay Danlag, Tampakan, which is inhabited by the Blaan indigenous tribe.